VARTRY WALKS
OVER 800 ATTEND OFFICIAL OPENING OF VARTRY WALKS ON SATURDAY
HUGE crowds gathered for the visit of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to Roundwood on Saturday to officially open the Vartry Lakes Walks.
The walk was devised by the Roundwood and District Council with funding and support received from Wicklow County Council, County Wicklow Partnership and Government bodies. The enhanced project opens up 20km of refurbished walks to the public.
Speaking at the opening, the Taoiseach said: ‘I am delighted to see this brilliant new amenity opening to the public here in the Garden of Ireland. It is particularly appropriate that we launch such a fantastic facility in the same week as we launch the Healthy Ireland 2018 campaign to encourage people to get active this summer.
‘ These 20km of walks are the perfect facility for getting outdoors and enjoying the best of what Irish forests have to offer. This amenity is testament to the dedication of the local community and is an example of partnership funding by the State to bring real benefit to rural Ireland,’ said the Taoiseach.
The walk also incorporates a new ‘NeighbourWood’ amenity and Minister of State, Andrew Doyle, gave the project his blessing as well.
‘NeighbourWoods deliver a wide range of benefits to local communities and wider society by providing opportunities for exercise, recreation and relaxation, creating important wildlife habitats, mitigating noise pollution, promoting air quality and improving the visual landscape,’ said Minister Doyle.
‘As Minister with responsibility for forestry, I am delighted to see the result of the project, which combines the best of our forestry policy and our com-